Williamson ton wraps up series for New Zealand

Williamson ton wraps up series for New Zealand

Written by Staff Writer

21 Dec, 2015 | 11:28 am

Written by Staff Writer
21 Dec, 2015 | 11:28 am

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The Black Caps have defeated Sri Lanka in Hamilton to claim a 2-0 test series victory.

Kane Williamson scored his fifth century in eight Tests in 2015 to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka before lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Monday.

The victory gave Brendon McCullum’s side a 2-0 series sweep over the tourists after they won the first Test in Dunedin by 122 runs.

Williamson finished 108 not out, taking his run tally in 2015 to 1,172 – the most by a New Zealander in a calendar year – at an average of 90.15.

That also meant Williamson jumped two spots to top the International Cricket Council ranking list as the game’s premier test batsman for the first time.

He moved above England’s Joe Root (886 points) and South Africa’s AB de Villiers (881) to sit on 889 points – the first time since the ICC introduced the rankings system that a New Zealander has been No 1.

The hosts reached their victory target of 189 with five wickets down, wicketkeeper BJ Watling finishing unbeaten on 13 alongside Williamson and scoring the winning run with a sweep for a single off Milinda Siriwardana.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera took 4-68 to go with his first innings haul of 5-47.

The two teams now embark on a five-match one-day series that starts in Christchurch on 26 December before two Twenty20 internationals.